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Re-Done by ME! But the origional base is Erin's.
Not Your Average Girl - Friends
November 30, 2009
 Spinach Pasta Salad
We try to make our lunches quick and easy. I was looking through some old menus and found our Spinach Pasta Salad recipe! :D We used to make this quite a bit, but haven't had it for awhile, so I made it for lunch. It is so good!
Ingredients
16oz box of pasta (Rotini is the best)
6 cups raw spinach
8oz. shredded cheese
Dressing:
6 tbsp Olive Oil
4 tbsp vinegar (we use apple cider)
3 cloves of crushed garlic
3/4cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
DirectionsCook noodles, strain and cool. tear up spinach a bit. Mix dressing and pour all over noodles and spinach. Add shredded cheese, mix and serve.
You can add more dressing as needed.
Simple and easy and doesn't take very long either. Perfect for a last minute filling side or light, yet filling lunch.
©AmandaDixon2009
November 29, 2009
He’s A Posterboy! Review and Giveaway
One of my favorite school projects was when we had a International gathering, where different families from our homeschool group chose a country and did special things from the country at a booth and then we went from "country to country" to learn about them.
Our family did the country of Cambodia because at that time we were close friends with an older missionary couple whose life passion was to bring the Scriptures and knowledge of the Savior to the Cambodians. It was such a learning experience for us because we got to sit down with the missionaries and hear them tell us all about the country and people and such. We took notes, studied the country, learned what Cambodians did and didn't do, what was different about them than us, etc. We all picked something specific about Cambodia and wrote a paper on it. I think I did food... big surprise, huh? :P We also made a Cambodian flag and 3D type map of the country on poster boards. It was really cool!
I absolutely LOVE Carolina Pad products and when I heard that their Ghostline company was needing reviewers for their poster boards, I jumped at the chance and promptly signed up. :) I don't know why now, cause my creative juices are all but lacking in my body. I kid you not. So try hard not to laugh at this project I came up. :P
I figured that was the MOST important thing in my life right now and the biggest thing that happened in November, so it was fitting to use the products for it. :D btw... if you notice the visitor log is lacking... ;)
 Ghostline sent me: 22x28 Foam Display Board 14x33 Project Board 14x22 Poster Board Make A Poster Kit Overall thoughts on the products: WONDERFUL! They are really nice, quality paper and poster boards. Great for homeschoolers.
All of the products from Ghostline have grid lines so it makes it easy to draw, write, cut, etc. That was definitely nice when I was lining up the letters on the board. But the gridlines are so faint that unless you are up close to the board you can't seem them which is great!
Project paper is sturdy, yet pliable, so you are able to cut it and bend it  easy for those hard to reach areas, like the middle of this A:
It is also very absorbent paper. I used a marker to get the blue "IT'S A BOY!" letters and it didn't smear which I was surprised since its a little glossy.
One thing I didn't really like was the way the letter stencil separates the letters, but I guess that's how all stencils are. Still it made it difficult to get the letters to look "normal" instead of garage sale-ish.
The poster foamboard itself... very sturdy! Very easy to stand up and keep up. It really supports itself. It is also thin, yet thick enough to use pins in. I actually pinned the hats, booties, and blanket on the poster board and it held wonderfully and stood up too!
These products are quality products that are so easy to work with. I would recommend them to anyone who has a poster board project to do. Another awesome thing about Ghostline is that you can get their products at Wal-Mart, so you don't have to order them online if you need them asap! I was pretty excited when I was at Wal-Mart a couple weeks ago and I saw their products! :)
November is Ghostline's 13th birthday and in honor of it, they are giving YOU a chance to win $500 worth of Carolina Pad Products! :D Awesome, isn't it?
Only problem is that is ends tomorrow, November 30th, so GO NOW and enter simply by telling them why you would love to win and how it would make life easier for you and your students. You can enter here:
So I know I'm REALLY late to announce that, but if you hurry you can enter and maybe even win! ;)
©AmandaDixon2009
November 28, 2009
Light and Fluffy
I don't really care for cranberry sauce, but I absolutely love Cranberry Fluff. Its actually a recipe I made up, combining cranberry sauce and Watergate salad. Thus coming up with Cranberry Fluff.
Ingredients
2 cups raw chopped Cranberries
3/4 cup Unrefined Sugar
3 cups mini Marshmallows
1/2 chopped Pineapple, undrained
1 small can Mandrin Oranges, drained
1/2 cup chopped Walnuts
1 8oz. carton of Cool Whip
Directions
Mix cranberries, sugar, marshmallows and pineapple and chill. Then fold in walnuts and cool whip.
Chill before serving.
We didn't eat marshmallows this time because they have pork in them... eww! but its definitely "fluffier" with them in it. I am trying to figure out a way to use marshmallow creme in it, but haven't been able to yet.
Love all the flavors in this. A perfect mix of tangy and sweet! :)
©AmandaDixon2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Trip, pics, and felt projects
Happy Thanksgiving! We are having our turkey dinner today because yesterday the turkey wasn't thawed out... We went to California for a few days this week. We got there Monday morning, and left Wednesday night but even though it was short trip, it was soooooooo fun! On Wednesday we had the big family picnic at the park. We've done that for quite a few years, and it's always really fun! This year there were about 25 people! Here is a collage with a few of my favorite photos from the trip. I think the only picture that was taken at the picnic was the group photo and the rest were elsewhere.
While we were on our trip I took over 300 pictures, 93 of them being at the picnic. But when we got home I deleted a few blurry ones.
On Monday and Wednesday my dad took Alison and me on bike rides along the man made rivers to the park that most of the above pictures were taken. Alison also rode on tuesday, which made her milage for the trip about 40 miles! I don't think I went anywhere as close. I was riding my grandma's bike though and it doesn't have pedal breaks--only hand breaks, so that can be interesting if you aren't used to them. :-) Thankfully only once I tried to pedal backwards, but no one got hurt.
I might post a few other pictures from our trip later but for now I think I'll go back to making felt strawberries. I found a really simply tutorial here and had to try it out. My other project was a felt cupcake, (tutorial here) but mine didn't turn out quite right... Someday I'll get around to posting pictures. :-) I love using felt!
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November 26, 2009
I'm Dixie-fied Now!
I gotta say I have some of the sweetest friends! We received a super sweet package in the mail last week on the day of Great Grandpa's funeral that definitely brought a smile to our faces! Look what I got!
My very own DixieCajun's Creations apron!! :D I LOVE it! it is so me and so special because Mrs. Lirette hand-sewed it with love for me. Isn't it just too super?! I have literally worn it everyday since I got it! Definitely will have it on all day tomorrow as we prepare for Shabbat! ;)
I'm still thinking about making my own apron... no, I haven't actually made my apron yet... shameful, I know. But now... I really don't have to for awhile, right? haha!
Well this apron is so beautiful handcrafted! Don't you want one? You can now order them at DixieCajun's Creations! So go get one! They would make wonderful gifts for any homemaker!
I really love my apron! :D Thank you sooo much, Mrs. Lirette!
©AmandaDixon2009
November 24, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Cheeky Sistas
©AmandaDixon2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Break...Yay!
Hi Everyone!
This week is our Thanksgiving Break! We didn't get a fall break, so my mom is letting us take a week off for Thanksgiving! :)
During the break, we are painting my room! I am really excited! We painted it yesterday, and today we are touching up the paint, and putting my furniture in my room! This is the color we painted it...
The color is really pretty, I think. I am aiming for an Old-fashion Victorian looking room. :) I will be sure to post pictures when my room is done!
Also, on Thanksgiving we are going to my Grandma's house! I can't wait to eat the yummy food! :)
What are you all doing for Thanksgiving?
Have a great day!
Love,
Liz
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November 23, 2009
I ♥ Faces: Sun Flare
 When I saw the theme for this week's I <3 Faces challenge,: “Sun Flare”, this picture just popped into my head! :) I love the Sun Flare coming down on her. Isn't Hannah such a pretty girly? I sure love that Dahling!
©AmandaDixon2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Philo Dough and Fabric
Today we went to a friend's house and watched her demonstrate making a few things with her Pampered Chef equipment. I got to help and it was soooo fun! We used Philo (I've also seen it spelled Phylo, so I'm not sure what way is right...) dough and that stuff is awsome! It's almost as if you're using tissue paper to cook with. :-) The first dish she made, I didn't help with, but it had quite a few layers of the dough with melted butter in between, then some sliced cheese, and then some more dough, and butter, and on top there were Sesamy seeds and Black Caraway seeds sprinkled. That was soooooo good! In the next item we made I got to help, they were sooooooo tasty! After those were done baking, we ate lunch and us kids played tag outside for a while.
I love picking out fabric's for my nighties, because I can pick out some wild print that I would never wear in public, but it doesn't matter on a nighty. :-) My summer nighty this year was pink with green frogs, (I loved it!) and now my mom just finished my winter nighty, which is a dark blue with sea creatures on it. And on both of them, I've put a gigantic button, because I love gigantic buttons. :-)
Go over to Alison's blog to see how NANOWRIMO is going for her!
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November 21, 2009
I Miss Him!
This past week has been extremely hard for me. I lost my Great Grandpa, who I was very very close to. I can honestly say that he was THE best grandpa I've ever had. I am so thankful for the last 5 years of being able to grow closer to him, of course, it wasn't as long as I wanted, but I am very glad I had them. It was wonderful! It was wonderful to grow as close to him as I did.
Over the past 5 years, he really opened up to me about his WWII experiences which he hadn't shared them at all before. When I presented him the Armed Service album I made for him at his 65th anniversary, he was moved to tears. I knew that all the efforts and the sleepless night I spent on it was so worth it! Getting to know him was truly a blessing to me. I pray it was to him also. Since I did that for him and grew closer to him through it, I have a very important place in my heart for the armed service men. When we took him to the cemetery, they gave him a beautiful military salute with Taps and a 21 Gun Salute. I bawled through the whole thing. Knowing that his service was important to him, and that was so very important to me because of him. It was very hard to sit through for me.
Sitting in his funeral service remembering all the times we had together, the tears just flowed. We would color when I was younger and as I grew up, we would sit on his front porch and play cards. He taught me to play rummy, war, slap jack, and more. One of the last times he played cards he was 87 and got down on the floor with the Littles to play go fish with them. It wasn't easy for him to crawl on the floor but he showed his love to his family by doing it. He truly was a family man. That was all he was worried about: his family. He made it known that his family was all that was important to him.
I truly miss him. I miss his hugs. I miss his smile. I miss his playing cards. I now found myself crying when I pray because he is no longer on my list and it reminds me he is gone. I just miss him! But he lived a full and meaningful life. A life devoted to his family. I praise God that Grandpa knew our Savior and that I have the hope to once again see him on Resurrection Day. It hurts and its hard to have to wait for that day, but I know that the day is drawing close. OH, what a glorious day that will be!
Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. Adonai ELOHIM will wipe away the tears from every face, and he will remove from all the earth the disgrace his people suffer. For ADONAI has spoken.
Revelation 21
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away."
Love you, Grandpa!
Please continue to pray for us and also my Great Grandma who is by herself now, and also for my Uncle Keith. It's been hard for them too.
©AmandaDixon2009
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Pirates of the Caribbean 1,2,3 ~ Lord of the Rings Trilogy ~ National Treasure 1&2 ~ Sense and Sensibility ~ Pride and Prejudice ~ A Walk to Remember ~ Ever After ~ Raiders of the Lost Ark ~ The Princess Bride ~ Star Wars ~ Emma ~ Spiderman 1,2,3
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BarlowGirl~Superchic[k]~Krystal Myers~TobyMac~Relient K~Rush of Fools~Casting Crowns~Britt Nicole~Natalie Grant~ZOEgirl~Stacie Orrico~Stellar Kart~David Crowder Band~Chris Tomlin~
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